Top tips on finding your way through the European restaurant maze and saving money. Part 1.

TIP. Avoid typical tourist traps. On the many charming Greek islands, steer clear of tavernas (small restaurants specializing in traditional Greek food) with tacky laminated color photos of dishes outside. Food here usually costs more and it’s often mediocre fare. Listen out instead for Greek voices and dine where the locals go to save money. Loyalty has its own rewards and while you may not want to eat at the same taverna every single night, most of these small , often family run restaurants will go out of their way to give returning diners free ‘extras’ like a brandy after dinner, or a dessert.

TIP. Save money on tipping. In France or Italy, it’s cheaper to have a coffee at the bar. You’ll pay more to sit on the pavement under a parasol, though the view may be worth it in some cases. In France, as in most European countries, loose change is perfectly acceptable as a tip in a bar or café if you have coffee or a snack, a little more if you have dinner but 10% is the maximum tip – not the customary 15-20% expected in the U.S.

TIP. Share to save in Spain, where the small dishes known as tapas are a popular and inexpensive way to eat out. Split three or four different plates washed down with a glass of wine or, in Barcelona, one of the endless varieties of sparkling cava. At many Spanish bars and tavernas, you can even get free nibbles, known as an aperitivo, with your drinks including slices of tasty Spanish omelet or stuffed olives.

TIP. Sample cheaper local delicacies like fried zucchini flowers on the Greek isle of Thassos or giant white beans in tomato sauce with herbs on most other Greek islands. There’s no better place to eat the dessert Ile flottante (floating island) than in France, or fish and chips in London – buy them drenched in salt and vinegar from a chip shop rather than a restaurant and munch them while you’re sightseeing. In Stockholm, take the chill off a cool evening with hot chocolate drunk from a bowl in Gamla Stan, the historic old town, as you gaze out over the scenic waterways.

TIP. Steer clear of “tourist menus” but look instead for set menus, or specials such as the plat du jour in France, though be careful as some dishes of the day, such as fish, can be pricey. Speaking of fish, Italians will look down their noses at you if you just order a plate of pasta but stick to your guns if that’s all you want. To an Italian, pasta is just part of the meal and you’ll be expected to order fish or meat as well, plus a salad and a starter, known as antipasto.

TIP. Many small local restaurants take cash only, so use your Visa debit card to withdraw cash at the ATM when you’re in a major town or city and locals will love you, plus you’ll keep track of your spending more easily.

Read part 2 of this feature here